2018 MLB Draft: What time, channel, top prospects and draft order

Auburn junior pitcher Casey Mize is one of the top pitching prospects in this year's MLB draft, in which the Detroit Tigers have the top overall pick.
Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Auburn pitcher Casey Mize throws a pitch during the first inning of a Southeastern Conference tournament NCAA college baseball game against Texas A&M, Thursday, May 24, 2018, in Hoover, Ala.(Photo: Butch Dill, AP)

WHEN: Starts Monday at 7 p.m. EDT and continues for 40 rounds over three days, with first two rounds (and two “competitive balance rounds”) from MLB Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. Rounds 3-10 on Tuesday and rounds 11-40 on Wednesday will be held via conference calls with teams, with picks streamed live on MLB.com.

FIRST PICK: Detroit Tigers have No. 1 overall pick for second time, and first since taking Rice pitcher Matt Anderson in 1997.

ORDER: Determined by reverse order of finish in overall standings from last season.

ON THE CLOCK: Teams have 4 minutes to make picks in first round, and 1 minute in first competitive balance round, second round, second competitive balance round, compensatory picks and rounds 3-10. Rest of draft has selections without time delays.

COMPETITIVE BALANCE ROUNDS: These rounds give teams with lowest revenues and smallest markets opportunity to get additional picks. Eight selections awarded picks for competitive balance round A following first round through formula that considers winning percentage and revenue. Six additional teams received picks for competitive balance round B following second round. Competitive balance picks can be traded up until a few hours before draft begins, but teams not permitted to deal any other picks in draft.

SIGNING DEADLINE: Teams must sign drafted players, other than those who were college seniors, by July 6. Players who have exhausted their college eligibility have until one week before 2019 draft to sign.

Here are some of the top players eligible for the draft (with position, school, age, height, weight and college class):

JOEY BART

C, Georgia Tech, 21, 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, junior.

The Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year led the conference in hitting with a .359 average and topped the Yellow Jackets with a .632 slugging percentage, 79 hits, 16 home runs, 55 runs scored and a .471 on-base percentage. Bart had a 16-game hitting streak this season and has terrific power potential at the next level. He’s also one of the country’s best defensive catchers, with a .992 fielding percentage on the season while throwing out 12 of 33 would-be base stealers.

Bohm is one of the top offensive players in the draft, hitting .339 with 16 homers – the most by a Wichita State player since 2004 – and 55 RBIs with 14 doubles and 39 walks. He also showed a knack for hitting in the clutch by setting a school record with three grand slams this year, and led the team with 10 go-ahead RBIs. Bohm will likely play either third or first base at the next level.

NOLAN GORMAN

3B, O’Connor H.S. (Arizona), 18, 6-1, 210.

Gorman has made scouts drool with his raw power that has been on display while winning high school home run derbies around the country. MLB.com rated him the No. 1 power hitter among all players in the draft, prep or college, and his fast bat and hands are expected to translate to the pro level.

ETHAN HANKINS

RHP, Forsyth Central H.S. (Georgia), 18, 6-6, 200.

Hankins has a blazing fastball that reaches 98 mph at times and some consider it the best in the draft. He missed a month with tightness in a muscle in his shoulder that affected his overall effectiveness and dropped him out of the discussion for the No. 1 overall pick. But the big righty is still highly coveted, and some believe his fastball has potential for gaining even more zip to go along with a solid changeup.

JONATHAN INDIA

3B, Florida, 21, 6-1, 185, junior.

India has been an offensive force for the defending College World Series champions, hitting .364 with 18 homers and 45 RBIs through Saturday’s NCAA Tournament regional games. He’s the 12th player in school history to post 20 or more homers, 100 or more RBIs and 30 or more stolen bases in his career. India also had a 24-game hitting streak earlier this season. He’s considered athletic enough to play several spots around the infield.

MATTHEW LIBERATORE

LHP, Mountain Ridge H.S. (Arizona), 18, 6-5, 200.

Liberatore is considered by many to be the top left-hander in this year’s draft class because of a three-pitch repertoire that has a chance to special. He hits the low- to mid-90s with his fastball, and while it’s not the best heater in the crop, the big lefty has terrific command and mixes in a knee-buckling curveball and solid changeup – along with a still-developing slider.

NICK MADRIGAL

2B, Oregon State, 21, 5-7, 160, junior.

His slight physical build makes him look anything but one of college baseball’s best players, but he’s very much in the mold of similarly vertically challenged big league All-Stars Jose Altuve and Dustin Pedroia. Madrigal is considered by many to be the best overall hitter in the draft. He rebounded nicely for the Beavers after missing half the season with a broken left wrist. He was hitting .406 with three homers and 32 RBIs and just five strikeouts in 128 at-bats through Saturday’s NCAA Tournament regional games.

CASEY MIZE

RHP, Auburn, 21, 6-3, 220, junior.

The likely No. 1 overall pick went undrafted out of high school three years ago, developing into a potential big league ace while in college. Mize has the mound combination that makes scouts drool – and batters consistently miss. He’s got solid command of four pitches, including a fastball that hovers in the mid-90s. But it’s his outstanding command and wicked splitter/changeup – possibly the best in the draft – that push him to the top of most teams’ wish lists. He was 10-5 with a 2.95 ERA and 151 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 109 2/3 while helping the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament.

BRADY SINGER

RHP, Florida, 21, 6-5, 180, junior.

The Gators ace has been in the discussion since last year to be the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft with his mid-90s fastball and solid slider. A slow start and recent hamstring issue, combined with a terrific year by Auburn’s Casey Mize, likely have the Florida righty instead going within the top five selections. Singer showed he was healthy again by going seven strong innings in an NCAA Tournament win over Jacksonville on Saturday. He’s 11-1 with a 2.27 ERA and 98 strikeouts and 19 walks in 95 innings.

CARTER STEWART

RHP, Eau Gaille H.S. (Florida), 18, 6-6, 200.

Stewart has a ridiculously deceptive curveball that MLB.com rates as the best in the entire draft, and he combines it with a mid-90s fastball that he turned up to 98 mph in some outings. If not for Auburn’s Casey Mize and Florida’s Brady Singer, Stewart could have been a strong candidate to be the first prep righty in draft history to go No. 1 overall.

TRAVIS SWAGGERTY

OF, South Alabama, 20, 5-11, 180, junior.

The left-handed hitting Swaggerty has five-tools potential with a terrific mix of speed, athleticism, power and defense. He could be the first outfielder taken. Swaggerty projects to be a leadoff-type center fielder in the pros. He hit .296 with 13 homers and 38 RBIs with a whopping 54 walks for the Jaguars this season.

OTHER POTENTIAL EARLY FIRST-ROUNDERS: Stetson RHP Logan Gilbert; Wisconsin high school OF Jarred Kelenic; Oregon State OF Trevor Larnach; South Florida LHP Shane McClanahan; Tennessee high school lefty Ryan Weathers, son of former big leaguer David Weathers; and California high school RHP Cole Winn.

If a team losing a qualifying free agent is a revenue-sharing recipient and if the lost player signs for at least $50 million, then the team is awarded a compensatory pick between the first round and Competitive Balance Round A. If the player signs for less than $50 million, the compensation pick for the team comes after Competitive Balance Round B.

31. Tampa Bay Rays (compensation for Alex Cobb, who signed with the Orioles. Baltimore forfeited its second-round pick.)
32. Tampa Bay Rays (compensation for not signing Drew Rasmussen)
33. Kansas City Royals (compensation for Lorenzo Cain, who signed with the Brewers. Milwaukee forfeited its third-round pick.)
34. Kansas City Royals (compensation for Eric Hosmer, who signed with the Padres. San Diego forfeited its second-round pick.)
35. Cleveland Indians (compensation for Carlos Santana, who signed with the Phillies. Philadelphia forfeited its second-round pick.)

Competitive Balance

Round A

Teams that have either one of the 10 smallest markets or 10 smallest revenue pools receive an additional pick at the end of the first or second round. In 2017, six picks were assigned between the first and second rounds based on a formula that considers winning percentage and revenue. The remaining eight eligible teams received a supplemental selection between the second and third rounds. In 2018, the groups of teams switch places. Competitive Balance picks may be traded and are not subject to forfeiture.

If a team that loses a qualifying free agent does not receive revenue sharing and did not exceed the luxury-tax salary threshold the previous season, it is awarded a compensatory pick after Competitive Balance Round B.

75. St. Louis Cardinals (compensation for Lance Lynn, who signed with the Twins. Minnesota forfeited its third-round pick.)
76. Colorado Rockies (compensation for Greg Holland, who signed with the Cardinals. St. Louis forfeited its second-round pick.)
77. Chicago Cubs (compensation for Wade Davis, who signed with the Rockies. Colorado forfeited its second-round pick.)
78. Chicago Cubs (compensation for Jake Arrieta, who signed with the Phillies. Philadelphia forfeited its third-round pick.)